BJP MP raises issue of alleged misbehaviour with woman journo

A BJP MP on Wednesday raised in the Rajya Sabha the issue of alleged misbehaviour with a woman journalist of a private news channel and urged Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to refer the matter to the ethics committee of the House if any member was suppressing the voice of the media. Bhupender Yadav (BJP), raising the issue through a 'point of order' during the Zero hour, said, "We do not want to interfere in any private organisation, but if a woman is misbehaved with and employees are not paid, it is the responsibility of parliamentarians to protect the freedom of speech".

He further said the Chairman has the power to send the matter to the ethics committee "if any member was suppressing the voice of the media". The matter should be referred to the ethics committee to protect rights of media persons, Yadav said.

The senior BJP member, however, did not take names. Earlier, Rajeev Chandrashekhar (BJP) also sought to raise the issue, but Congress members objected saying there is "conflict of interest".

Naidu too asked Chandrasekhar to confine himself to the topic for which he had given the Zero Hour notice.